The first UTC BAS-IT CyS cohort at December 2023 commencement ceremonies. From left: Jaeden Adami, Mischka Scott, College of Engineering and Computer Science Interim Dean Ahad Nasab, Dr. Chang Phuong, Amber Gordy and Noah Syler. Photo courtesy of Dr. Chang Phuong.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is drafting the next class for one of its new 12-month undergraduate degree programs for fall 2024.
The Bachelor of Applied Science: Information Technology in Cybersecurity (BAS-IT CyS) is an accelerated program that requires students to commit to a heavy workload, including a paid internship at a partner company, public agency or nonprofit working with UTC.
Ideal applicants will already have an associate degree or bachelor’s degree in any field and a working knowledge of IT system principles.
“We are looking for students who have great interest in studying technology but not necessarily in an advanced calculus course,” said program coordinator Lisa Tarr.
Still, people without a formal or informal background working with computers who are enthusiastic about the program are encouraged to apply, she said.
Because it’s an applied program, the curriculum is more hands-on, Tarr said, and includes developing soft skills such as communication and teamwork alongside technical proficiency—both in the classroom and on the job.
There are also fewer general education and science courses required to obtain the BAS-IT CyS degree vs. UTC’s four-year tracks in computer science and computer engineering. However, the BAS-IT CyS degree is a fully accredited bachelor’s degree program at UTC.
Each semester is divided into two, seven-week terms in which students take three courses and intern on weekdays from 1-5 p.m. Each class of students accepted into the program will take the same coursework together at UTC as part of a cohort.
Applicants accepted into the program are strongly advised not to acquire a second job on top of their rigorous coursework and paid internship. UTC also works closely with students in the program to make sure they stay well and can access resources to help them succeed and overcome any challenges they face, Tarr said.
Degree serves students and employers
Housed in the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the BAS-IT CyS program directly addresses workforce needs while positioning students to transition into full-time employment in the booming tech industry.
The program is a “game-changer” for both students and local employers—from large corporations to public agencies, nonprofits and start-ups—said Austin Corcoran, executive director of ChaTech, a Chattanooga nonprofit that has worked to foster Chattanooga’s tech economy over the past 20 years.
“What UTC has done here is not just create a degree; they’ve created a pathway,” Corcoran said. “By integrating a paid internship and focusing on applied learning, they’re ensuring students aren’t just ready to graduate—they’re ready to work.”
The UTC curriculum and concurrent internship “in the real world” of IT prepare graduates to assess organizational IT security needs, such as recommending and implementing network security measures, routine auditing and maintenance. Coursework and internships center on computer architecture, programming, systems analysis, networking and cybersecurity.
When the program launched in spring 2023, about 6,700 cybersecurity jobs were open in Tennessee—and more than 300 in southeast Tennessee and north Georgia. Demand for tech workers is expected to grow 22-24% in the next five years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Moving into a career in IT was seamless for December 2023 graduate Mischka Scott, a former social worker and a member of the inaugural BAS-IT CyS cohort.
Scott landed a system administrator position at PlayCore in Chattanooga, the same company where she interned while earning her degree at UTC.
She is continuing with the work she started as an intern, “which is great because I have a lot of projects I want to finish,” said Scott, who worked in social services for seven years before deciding to change careers and pursue the accelerated IT/cybersecurity degree.
Read more about student experiences and local employers working with UTC to continue growing this exciting new Bachelor of Applied Science: Information Technology in Cybersecurity degree program.
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College of Engineering and Computer Science
Bachelor of Applied Science: Information Technology in Cybersecurity
UTC launches BAS-IT Cybersecurity degree
Mischka Scott, who graduated from the UTC BAS-IT CyS degree program in December 2023, now works as a system administrator at PlayCore. Photo by Angela Foster.
